Method and system for item marking and identification

Abstract

A method and system for item marking and identification, representing an alternative to bar code reading, based on a a time-varying post emission of a plurality of fluorescent/phosphorescent items embedded into a marker embodiments of the present invention thus providing optical markers for information exchange. In a typical embodiment, information to be transmitted is divided into packets, whereas each packet represents a unique wavelength spectrum or signature. The said emission signature is generated in packets as a response to an activation signal is then analyzed sequentially. The varying spectral content of each said packet encodes a symbol, while symbol's position is encoded with the timing of the after-emission packet.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . Process, system, method and product for item marking and identification and identification comprising Fluorescent Code wherein the said Fluorescent Code is integrated into a said item; Fluorescent Code Reader. 
     
     
         2 . Process, system, method and product for item marking and identification, comprising Fluorescent Code of the  claim 1  implemented as a marker of the said item and possessing optical after emission properties sufficient for on the said items identification. 
     
     
         3 . Process, system for for item marking and identification having provided thereon optically characterized classifying markings on the articles comprising the Cavity embodiment of Fluorescent Code product of the  claim 1  and  claim 2  further comprising: Transparent Solid Medium which has a absorption spectrum at most 10 in the relevant wavelength band; Encoding Table with rows and columns to the response times and spectral signatures correspond to a symbol position and its its value respectively; Plurality of Dynamic Fluorescent Entities embedded in the said Transparent Solid Medium, wherein the said Plurality contains fluorescent entities with the non overlapping response times spread of at least of 1 nanosecond apart, where the after emission florescent spectra of the said entities with spectral width and the average wavelength of at least 50 nanometers, where in the said response times and the said spectra are taken from a raw and the column of the said Encoding Table; Cavity embedded in the item's surface, which the said Transparent Solid Medium fills in, where in the said PDFEs are distributed in randomly throughout the said cavity's space, wherein the said cavity's shape is sufficient to prevents its detachment from the said cavity item, and filled. 
     
     
         4 . Process, method and system for item marking and identification of the  claim 1  and  claim 2  having provided thereon optically characterized classifying markings on the articles comprising document feature extraction and digitizing as in  claim 3 , Tape embodiment of Fluorescent Marker product of the  claims 1  further comprising: Transparent Solid Medium as in  claim 2 , but in a shape of a layer at most 1 mm thick on a sticky tape applied on the item; Plurality of Dynamic Fluorescent Entities as in  claim 2  placed inside of the said Transparent Solid Medium, wherein the said PDFE encodes a symbolic sequence via dynamic spectral polarization characteristics. 
     
     
         5 . Process and product for item marking and identification comprising of Plurality of Dynamic Fluorescent Entities wherein each fluorescent entity via its dynamic fluorescent characteristics uniquely encodes at least one symbol value and its time slot according; Encoding Table which further comprises of the rows and columns wherein each entry corresponds to a unique combination of the delay time and spectral polarizing characteristics encoding the said symbol's time position and the value respectively. 
     
     
         6 . Process and product for item marking and identification; Fluorescent Code Reader (FCR) apparatus of the  claim 1  comprising Activator; Camera, further comprising at least one polarized filter and at least 2 megapixels of at least 3 types covering the spectral range of at least 400 through 1000 nm; Data base, able to store the responses of the Plurality of Fluorescent Entities of the  claims 2 , 3 , 4 , captured by the said Camera; Visualizing Screen able to display the scene; Computation Unit programmed to control the said Camera, Activator, Visualizing Screen; Controlling software installed on the said Computation Unit, able to control the said Camera, Activator, Visualizing Screen and perform converting a desired light pulse duration, spectral range and polarization into control signal of the said Activator, encoding, storage, matching the response of the said Fluorescent Marker for the purpose of identification and search on the scene methods of the  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . Preferred embodiment of the Activator apparatus of the  claim 6  comprises: at least one polarized filter of adjustable angle; at least of color filter; at least one light source able to generate a pulse of light of the length between 100 milliseconds and 1 millisecond, covering spectrum range at least between 300 through 1000 nm at total illumination levels power at 2000 through 200 lumens in spread between 15 through 30 degrees of solid angle.